Top Tips to travel to Cape Verde
1. Currency – We recommend that you bring Euros. Both the euro and the escudos (local currency) will be accepted in stores, attractions, hotels and everywhere as a payment method. There is an ATM in each hotel and in various parts of the city, which will allow you to withdraw money (in escudos).
2. Sockets (plugs)are standard European
3. Bring high factor sunscreen. Even on occasional cloudy days, the rays are strong!
4. Bring a sun shirt with a protection factor for the tours/ excursions and for the days when you will be walking in the sun.
5. Drink a lot of water, but always bottled water. You shouldn’t be drinking from the taps!
Remember to drink a lot of water, especially if you are consuming a generous amount of cocktails, remember that the climate is hot and dry. You should drink at least 2L of water a day and at least 2: 1 with your cocktails.
⚠ Before ordering a cold drink at the hotel, bars or restaurants, make sure the ice is made with mineral water. We advise you to avoid drinks with ice.
6. There are many useful information on our page. Please use the search icon (should appear at the top of the page) to search what you want to know, which include useful travel information, accommodation, visas, fees and much more.
7. If you have any questions or problems, send us a private message, we will be happy to help.
8. Gentlemen → be aware that evening trousers are required for dinner in most hotel restaurants, but Jeans are allowed, so come prepared.
9. Ladies → an overcoat (or light shawl) will be needed at night, it can get windy!
10. From December to February the weather is cold here, between 18 to 25 º C, bring a coat! It may seem like an average temperature but as it is windy it is cold!
11. Also read the fine print on your insurance policy. You may not be covered if you do not follow these guidelines. If you need a doctor you can consult us and we will call a doctor to assist you or take you to the hospital or clinic. You can also order this service at your hotel reception. Remember that you may have to pay for treatment and apply for insurance.
12. You can find mosquitoes and geckos, but no other wild animals on Sal island. Be sure to bring a spray or anti-mosquito repellent with you and keep the doors closed at night.
13. Follow us on instagram @salexperiences
We welcome the photos you want to share; any inappropriate photos can be removed or others reused by the administrator to help others without further communication.
14. In Cape Verde the motto is #nostress, unfortunately in some places things happen very slowly compared to the European lifestyle.
15. Many countries are visa-free, click here to see which ones. You must still pay the airport fee, fill it out online, up to 5 days in advance, the border airport authority uses this same link to collect information and facilitates the process on arrival. Keep your receipt that you will receive by email, with the code. It costs € 31 per person. If, for some reason, you are a member with a vacation package (that includes the TSA fees) and are asked to pay at the country entrance, keep the receipt and take it to your agency representative, and you will be refunded.
16. If you are concerned about the space / weight of the luggage or the quantity of liquid products that is left in the handbag (100ml), in some countries it is possible to order products to be collected at the airport after the border, inform in your city , it is better to order in advance.
17. When packing for a couple, share the luggage with each other. If there is a loss, you will still have some items until your bag arrives. Take a change of clothes, bikini and essentials in your hand luggage.
18. If you have any food allergies, it would probably be a good idea to bring a menu with details translated into Portuguese to show the service team and the restaurant managers.
19. Avoid foods that have been exposed to flies / birds or hot conditions.
20. Use disinfectants or wash your hands before and after eating, after visiting the bathroom or any public space.
21. Bring a reusable water bottle, so you can help us save on plastic consumption. 🙂
22.If you are staying in hotels, they will probably offer laundry services at a high cost, you can find laundromats in the city center cheaper.
23. Fresh water is scarce throughout Cape Verde, so take a short bath. In private apartments or on Airbnb, there is a chance you have your own washing machine. Clothes get very dusty on certain days; therefore, if you stay many days, you may need to wash your clothes. Nobody uses dryers, so use clotheslines (and clothespins) to dry your clothes.
What to pack?
Everything you think is necessary / essential and you will need.
1. Be prepared and take everything you find necessary, as everything is imported on the island, things can be expensive. All toiletries, some hotels offer shower gel, cream, shampoo and conditioner but the quality of some may not be the one you use.
2. Bring all the medications you normally need and you can’t (or shouldn’t) be without, such as medications for hypertension, diabetes (medicines and other items for diabetes control), contraceptives, analgesics and antipyretics, antispasmodics and pain medications, anti-inflammatory, anti-flu, decongestant and throat sprays, antiallergic, mosquito repellants, medicines for nausea (if you usually feel nauseous during the flight, you have “sea sickness” or “ motion sickness ”and plans to do activities that can trigger motion sickness), plasters, rehydration sachets, Imodium tablets, piriton, etc. All essential medicines must be packed in hand luggage in case the hold luggage is lost.
3. Water shoes, soil and sand can get hot and water shoes are essential for watching lemon sharks during the tour.
4. Mosquito repellent and plug-ins for mosquitoes. Bring cream and antihistamine pills to treat bites.
5. Any female products just in case!
6. Hat, lip balm, sunscreen, moisturizer, sunglasses, swimwear, slippers and beachwear!
7. Bring comfortable walking shoes, some floors are uneven, and flip flops!
8. Bring a shirt with a protective factor for the tours.
9. Plug adapter, if different from ours, in Cape Verde we use the European style with two round pins. If you’ve forgotten yours, you can use the TVs’ USB ports to charge phones without a plug.
10. Towel holders (can be windy at the pools / beach)
11. Chargers for mobile devices and computers. Phone power bank in case of power failure.
12. Flight cushions
13. Snorkel mask, diversity of fish and beautiful corals.
14. Vests and hats for children.
15. (International) Driver’s license – because you may want to take a scooter / quad tour. The EU national license, Brazil, Nigeria, among other countries is also accepted, but it must be the definitive driver license, the provisional one is not accepted.
16. Contact lenses (if you use them) and your kit, thermometer, pressure measure.
With a little advance planning, you can rest and relax without worry.
We hope we helped!